King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was involved in a minor car collision on Wednesday morning but emerged unscathed. The 68-year-old was being driven from Drottningholm Palace on the island of Lovön to Bromma airport when the incident took place during rush hour, on a bridge not far from the royal residence. The monarch's dark blue Mercedes crashed into another vehicle – a Lexus SUV – when it made an unexpected left hand turn.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was unhurt during the minor crash on Wednesday morning
"There was a lot of damage to the car, but the king was unhurt. He is fine and he is not in shock," royal spokesperson Margareta Thorgren told Swedish publication The Local. Carl, who often takes the wheel himself, was seated in the back of the car on this occasion, accompanied by a royal aide.
10 facts about King CarlAnnika Sönnerberg, who was part of the royal's entourage and in a different car, added: "I was sat in the car behind when it happened. I do not know exactly how he reacted when it happened, but no one in his car was injured".
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was seated in the back with a royal aide
Passengers in the other vehicle also escaped unharmed, she added. As the royal's car suffered extensive body damage on the right hand side, King Carl changed vehicles and carried on to the airport as normal. He flew to northern Sweden where he is on an official visit, meeting local businesses and attending the opening of a new dairy.